A 15-year-old girl was rescued from the clutches of her kidnapper and the accused arrested in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, police said on Monday.

An official said that girl’s brother, Mohd Yaseen Handoo, son of Mohd Ramzan Handoo, a resident of Leharwalpora, Bandipora, had filed a complaint stating that on May 9, his sister left home for some personal work and did not return.

The girl’s brother told the police that the family searched for her on their own and found out she had been kidnapped by the accused identified as Mohd Shafi Ganie, son of Mohd Ramzan Ganie of Dangerpora, Sopore.

The official said that a case (FIR number 65/2018) was registered in Police Station Bandipora and after “hectic efforts” by police, the girl was traced and rescued from Handwara and the accused involved was arrested.

“After completion of legal formalities, the girl was handed over to her family,” he added.